Grading every Lakers player’s performance from the team’s 117-114 loss to the Pistons.
Just when it looked like the Lakers turned a corner, they remind everyone how unserious they still are.
As fun as the last nearly two weeks had been and as impressive as the sweep of the Kings may have felt, a lot of it was completely undone by the unseriousnes of Monday. Poised to head into a big Christmas Day showdown with a lot of momentum, the Lakers fumbled the opportunity, figuratively and literally.
The purple and gold turned the ball over 18 times, leading to 28 points for the Pistons. Just on sheer volume, Detroit took 18 more shots than the Lakers. Teams don’t win games with that big of a discrepancy.
And just like that, the Lakers take two steps forward and one step back. The momentum heading into a big game is gone and you’ve been swept by the Pistons for the first time since the tanking years.
First season sweep for Detroit against the Lakers since 2017
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) December 24, 2024
Well then, let’s dive into the loss. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.
29 minutes, 10 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 steal, 3-8 FG, 0-2 3PT, 4-4 FT, -5
The play of Rui can pretty much summarize the waxing and waning of the Lakers. One game after a near double-double, a season-high 11 rebounds and a game-winning play late, Rui was basically a non-factor in this one in the second half.
After being 3-5 from the field in the first half, he didn’t make any of the three field goals he attempted. And one rebound? We have to be past these types of game.
Grade: C
39 minutes, 19 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, +15
AD felt like one of the few Lakers giving a damn for much of the night. Unfortunately, most of his energy was spent trying to stop shots at the rim after the Pistons blew by their defender on the perimeter.
His four misses at the free throw line proved costly. He accounted for four of the five misses at the line for the team. But that felt like one of the few negatives from his night.
Grade: B+
35 minutes, 28 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists, 10-16 FG, 2-4 3PT, 6-7 FT, -1
This only became a game late because LeBron put the team on his back. And, shockingly, the team committed 18 turnovers and LeBron only was responsible for two of them.
He set people up early with nine assists in the first half and then became assertive late. He had a look to win the game that missed, but the only reason he had the chance is all the work he did in the minutes leading up to it.
Grade: A
33 minutes, 17 points, 1 rebound, 2 steals, 6-10 FG, 3-4 3PT, 2-2 FT, +10
Another person largely absolved of the blame on Monday was Christie, who had a career night. He’s really finding his form since entering the starting lineup. Of course, he won’t shoot 60% from the field every night, but this level of 3-and-D play is great.
Unfortunately, he was also one of the many Lakers perimeter players who struggled defensively. Basically, everyone on the perimeter gets docked a bit in this one. Because that was shocking defense.
Grade: A-
37 minutes, 12 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 5-9 FG, 2-5 3PT, +16
Hoo boy was this a ROUGH night for Reaves. What’s not included in that stat line above is the six turnovers he committed and just about every one of them felt like a live ball turnover that led directly to a Pistons layup.
Stats don’t do justice how badly Reaves played, particularly defensively. He did get a stop on Cade Cunningham late, but that felt more like a bad shot than good defense. And it was one of his rare defensive highlights.
This felt like one of his worst games of the season on both ends.
Grade: F
16 minutes, 5 points, 5 assists, 1-5 FG, 1-4 3PT, 2-2 FT, -13
This was not a great D’Lo night either. Offensively, he remains lost with his shot and scoring. And there’s only so much playmaking that can make up for that.
While I thought he’d played well defensively of late, that was also not the case on Monday. To top it off, he left the game with an injury in the fourth quarter.
JJ Redick says D’Angelo Russell was getting his thumb checked out when he exited the game and went back to the locker room late in the 4Q.
— David Mendez-Yapkowitz (@Dave_Yapkowitz) December 24, 2024
Grade: D
19 minutes, 9 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 3-5 FG, 3-5 3PT, -22
Some of the shots Gabe took tonight were hard to believe. On Monday, they went in, so you can’t knock him. But, uh, let’s not replicate that shot profile moving forward.
Grade: B+
17 minutes, 7 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 3-3 FG, 1-1 3PT, -5
A perfect night from Reddish where he stuffs the stat sheet and the Lakers waste it? Unforgivable.
Grade: A-
16 minutes, 7 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2-4 FG, 1-2 3PT, -10
Well, at least Knecht is starting to hit shots again? It’s a small positive to take away from this one. But he also was letting people drive right by him, too, which is best reflected in his plus-minus.
Grade: C
I’m not sure I understand not using Christian Koloko in this game. He has been struggling, but this team isn’t built to survive center-less lineups. We have a lot of data that shows LeBron and Rui as a frontcourt doesn’t work.
When it comes to turnovers, that’s something I pin on the players, not the coaches. But playing time and the stretches without a center killed the Lakers on Monday.
Grade: D
Monday’s DNPs: Bronny James, Christian Koloko, Maxwell Lewis, Quincy Olivari, Armel Traore
Monday’s inactives: Jalen Hood-Schifino, Jarred Vanderbilt, Christian Wood, Jaxson Hayes
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude.
